Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure to acquire long term residency for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7166/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. The dependants of the aforementioned, who have been legally resident in the State for over five years may also apply for long term residency. This particular long term permission does not grant an exemption from employment permit requirements to any such dependants. Time spent in the State on student conditions cannot be counted towards long term residency.

As the Deputy is aware, Section 36 of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008, which is currently at Second Stage in the Dáil, provides a statutory basis for long-term residence in the State. It is my intention, subject to enactment of the Bill, to bring this statutory scheme into operation as soon as possible following enactment of the Bill. In doing so the necessary arrangements will be put in place to facilitate the making of applications under the statutory scheme.